Aerial vessel.



CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE (NAME CHANGED FROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY 'JUDICIAL ORDER) & SPENCERHEATH.

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIoATIoN FILED AUGgz'r, 1907.

Patented. Feb. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

HmmMINIMUM Wit moes CHRISTOPHER JOI-INLAKE (NAME CHANGED PROM JOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY JUDICIAL ORDER) & SPENCER HEATH.

AERIAL VESSEL.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 27, 1 907.

Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

, 'j District'of Columbia., have 1 ling and A UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEETOE.

" CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE, (NAME CHANGED FROM ORDER.) OF BRIDGEPOET, CONNECTICUT, AND

TRICT OF COLUMBIA; SAID' HEATH asslcNoH To sain LAKE.

AERIAL VESSEL.

Be it known that we, CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE, (formerly JOHN CnRis'roPnER L-\KE,) and SPENCER HEATH, citizens of the United States'of America, residing, respectively, in Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, and in lVashington, invented certain Improvements in lAerial Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to' improvements in the means of aerial navigation and has particular reference to theprobl'em of controlmaintaining the buoyancy. and sta- ".bihty of vessels used for that purpose.'

One object of the invention is to construct Aan' aerial [vessel which may `be sustained either wholly or partly by a buoyant element'l l'confined within a structure in which the forward portions which are exposed .to wind pressure wlll have such form and rigidity as l to admit of great velocity of travel without n' danger `to theballoon structure. This' ole- -ject is 'attainedby disposing' the buoyant element labout a tubular propelling device having enlarged ends of rigid construction. j A further object is to produce" an aerial vessel having as one of its means of support a buoyant element confined within'an envelop provided with means Awhereby` itmay be Iinated ordelated asv desired, according to the requirements of starting or landing and according' to the amount of buoyancy required when the` vessel is in part sustained bythe air impact on aeroplanes or other sustaining surfaces otlthe vessel as high speed is attained.

A further object is to produce an aerial vvessel that will be sustained by a combina tion-system of aeroplanes and a buoyant element and in which 4kthe aeroplanes will be so disposed as to form flexible walls within which to conne the buoyant element.

Y, -A1further object is to provide means inde- .pendent of the buoyant element for causing -the vessel to ascend or descend when in mospeed is Blackened by the rudder action.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 27, 1907. Serial No. 396,390.

' rial and the vessel is Patented Feb. 23, 1909.

W'ith these objects in view and further objects which will appear as the nature and advantages of the invention are more fully Clisi Closed, we have produced the various devices and combination of parts hereinafter speciically described and claimed and `illustrated by the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specilication, vand in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'an aerial vessel embodying the various featuresof our invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1. F-ig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the tubular propelling ortion with the inclosin'g planes removed. fig. l is a transverse section through the centraly portion of -the tubular propelling portion showing. a Fig. 6

modification of its forward portion. is an enlarged detail view -of the apparatus for inlating an'd deflating the walls which envelop the buoyant element. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the plane-controlling mechanism shown in Fig. 1.4

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The vessel comprises a basket or car l, a'

tubular propelling device`2 having enlarged triangular ends, va system of three rectangular. aeroplanes 3, 4 and 5, disposed about the tubular portion, a pair of auxiliary aero'- planes 6 and 7 (shown only in F ig. 2) and steering'and controlling devices comprising the vertical rudder 8, the horizontal planes or rudders 9 and 10, and mechanism for operating and controlling th'e various parts of the vessel. I

The tubular propelling apparatus 2 is constructed of thin metal or other rigid mateing a heated elastic fluid from a projector situated in the constricted central portion of the tubular structure. For lthis purpose a heated gaseous fluid is conducted from the tank or generator 12 (shown by dotted lines) by way of the pipe 13 to the projector'.

'lhe tank or generator l2 may be of any form or variety adapted to furnish or pro' duce sufficient quantities of heated gas or elastic vapor under pressure. The preferred generator', however, is one that produces a composite power fluid consisting-of hydron carbon gas, water J'OI'IN CHRISTOPHER LAKE BY JUDICIAL SPENCER HEATH, OF WASHINGTON, DIS- propelled by dischargvapor und highly heiltd air.7 the twodlatter elements being brought to a high :degree of heat and pressure in achamber surroundingan inner cylinder in which the hydrocarbon gas is produced by explosions and being mingled with that gas as the product of the generator.

'The fluid discharged from the projector 11 draws a current of atmosphere through the tubular structure from front to rear, thereby removing the forward air resistance and moving the vessel by the reaction of the .large volume Aof air mingled with and heated by the fluid from the projector and expelled at the rear. Some of the heat of the elastic fluid passes'through the walls of the tubular structure and aids in maintaining the tein- .perature of therbuoyant element which surrounds the tubular structure as will ,presently be more fully explained. rThis surrounding buoyant element has, in turn, the

reciprocal effect of preventingundue loss ,of

heat from the exterior ywalls ofthe tubular structure. The mid-portions of the tubular structure may be circular in form. as shown -for inclosing theV buoyant element.

by Fig. 2 and Fig. 6 or it may be triangular to correspond with the end openings which, in either case, are made'triangular to afford convenientattachment for the ends of planes 3, 4 and 5. These planes servethe two-fold purpose of air-impinging surfaces and walls Their sides are secured to longitudinal bars 14, l5 and 16, the ends of which are secured to corresponding corners vof lthe two triangular ends of the tubular structure. The planes 6 vand 7 are secured in any convenient manner to the upper bars 14 and 15. These bars may be round or of any preferred section or they may be constructed as trusses, their framework covered with fabric then constituting the planes 6 and 7. The planes 3, 4 and 5 which form also the inclosing walls Yfor the buoyant element'about the tubular structure have normally flat or somewhat dislied surfaces, but when inflated they will takethe convex form shown in the drawings and indicated by the lines 17, 18 and 19, and

when deflated they will conform to the con! cave lines 2l, 22 and 22.. By inflation and deflation the fabric can, of course, be given any form' intermediate these extremes, according to the amount of buoyancy and the form of air surfacesdesired, and the fabric may be of material that will remain taut for all degrees of inflation or of material that is only slightlyV elastic and will conform smoothly only to the outer or inner lines. ndependently of. their function as an inclosure for the buoyant element these planes serve also as air-impinging surfaces to aid in sustaining or directing the vessel during flight and in case of puncture the two lower ones will take the concave form shown at 22 and 23 thus forming, together Iwith planes 6 and 7, verv effective air resisting surfaces v wind shields to protect the flexible 'fabric of vex forni 17,thusforming an additional 7l) j parachute in such an emergency. The planes 3, 4 and 5, when flat or deflated are protectedv from forward wind pressure by the rigid walls of the tubular portion. lVhen inflatedvtlieir convex surfaces may beexposed to the forward wind pressure or theI forward walls of thel tubular ortion may be extended as shown at 2O in Fig. 5 to form the inclosing planes.

The space for thebuoyant element between the tubular propelling structure 2 and the inclosing planes 8, 4 and 5 is filled with heated air and gas by means Vof the jet blower 24 (Fig. l), shown in detail by Fig. 6. The double acting nozzle casing 30 provided at its mid-lengtli with the cutoff valve or gate 31 is secured in an aperture between the 'two lower inclosing planes. T'he gate 3l is'operated through the rack 90 32 and pinion 33 by turning the shaft or handle 84. A heated elastic gas oi vapor is conducted from a ysource of supply, which may be the same .as that used for propelling the vessel, to a three-way cock 35 by means of the pipe 36. This three-way cock is operated Afrom the car Vor basket by means of the cords 28. From the lthree-.way cock branch pipes 37 and 38 extend. Pipe 37 tei'- niinates in the nozzle 39 'in the outer portion 100 of the nozzle casing 30. For inflation the 'valve or gate .31A is opened as lshown and the three-way cock l35 turned sc asto allow'the escape of a jet of heated gaas or vapor through the branch pipe 37 and nozzle 39. 105 The Huid thus escaping will pass to the 'iiiterior of the balloon-space .drawing with it and heating a relatively large portion of atmospheric air. This jet-blower device furnishes a conif'enient method of'heatingvthe 110' air while forcing it in and also provides a Y V feature of safety .against overstraining the inclosing walls, the nozzle 39 being so situated with reference to its casing 30 that when the interior pressure reaches a certain point no more atmosphere will be drawn in through the casing, but if the jet of.l heated gas is continued-it will pass alone throughl the casing and a corresponding amount of the colder and denser air near the casing will pass out in therev'erse direction.v lVhile the colder and heavier airv thus passes out 'By this means the heat .of the buoyant elcment is adeduately maintained or augmented by simp y continuing or resuming the process of inflation.

- turned so that `closed 4,to'prevent any iiii'ush of air.

Lso

-mediate and parallelto the two -rudder ywardly from the ports the basket.

.For deflation -the three-way cock 35 isv the heated. gas will flow' through the branch pipe 3S and issue downnozzle 40 iii a jet opposite to the corresponding nozzle on .pipe 37. This jet, by an action siii'iilar to but reverse from that of inflation justdescribed, will cause t-he contentsto pass out through, the

nozzle-casing, thus causing deflation. Here again a similar feature of safety removes vdanger of overstraiiiing the structure by vacuum, as, beyond a certain point of rarefaction, which may be well within the limits of safety, the .contents will not be further drawn out bythe action of the jet, but if allowed to continue the heated gas will simply esca-pe from the nozzle into the open air. Then the desired extent of deflation ordelgrec of vacuum has been produced the cock 35 is turned otf and the gate 31 immediately The forwardand aft .horizontally pivoted planes or rudders 9 and 10 are used to give tlievesselu These rudders are secured in the frame'work intermediate the propelling and sustaining apparatus and the caror basket, but they may be. placed in any preferred positionwith reference to the other parts of -the vessel. These rudders are each provided with an arm' or double lever 45 and 46 from the extremities of which operating cords or wires 47 land 48 are attached. These lcords or wires connect withl similar levers 49 and 50 mounted on a horizontal shaft 51 intershafts. y

The cords or wires may be parallel to each other as shown.i or onepair of them may 'be crossed as indicated` by 'the diagonal dotted linesin connection withrudder 10. The horizontalv shaft 51 is secured'atyeacn end in the bars 52 of the frame-work that sup- Froxn'- this shaft depends an arm '53 which is so connected with the levers 49 andv50 that they may be all ro'` aboiitthe shaft 51. it is tated together p that' the 'ruddei's 9 and 10 now apparent.

-whenfconnected by cords oriwires as shown by the fullglin'es may be operated together by swingingthe arm 53 in such manner that the vessel maybe caused to ascend or de-V scend while'in motion without necessarily f departingfrol'n a horizontal position.l Itis likewise plai'n'that` if' the cords or wires 48 l bec'rossed as-shownby the dotted 'lines-the.

rudderswill act oppositely when operated in the sainewayA by the arm 53 and will have the effect .of changing the inclination of. the entire vessel in ascending or descending. The principleof 'this latter arrangement `of oppositely' acting riid'dersis be lieved 'not to. be new, and 4the principle 'of 'Ridders-'acting together `so as to maintain the vessel in a horizontal position or at any p `which forms vertical control and as :in aid in sustaining.

'tained partly or Vwholly by given inclination, whether ascending or descending, has been claimed in pending applicat-ion'for Letters Patent No. 374,996, tiled May 22, 1907. It .is of`great advantage,

however, to have the riidders and their operating mechanism so'contrived that they may be operated either together or op ositely or in any gradation of manner. e`- tween these two methods, thus giving the operator a far moie perfect and flexible control of the vessel. This-result is accomplished by means of the differential controlling device which 'isdr'awn to a. larger scale in Fig. 7. The double levers 49 and .50fare cach connected integrally with bevel gears 55 and 5G.- These gears it freely on the 'shaft 5'1. and are kept from lateral displacement by thecollars 57 'and 58. Between the gears on shaft 51 there is a freefitting collar-59 having an integrally connected rod' G0 projecting radially from its central ortion. The rod 60 carries a sleeve the arm 53 the upper end of whichl carries axpinion 61 engaging the gears 55 and 56. .The pinion 61 is secured in mesh with the gears by means of. a nut 62 on the extremity of the ro'd 60 Where it projects from the end of the sleeve forming the arm 53. This arni is provided with a cross b ar 54 bent to -form convenient handles 65 to be grasped by the operator. It will now be seen that any swinging motion of the arm 53 will cause the levers 29..and 30 to act together and impart to the rudders a parallel motion if the connectinr cords or Wires are parallel 'as shown by fiill lines in Fig. 1, oran opposite motion if one of the pairs of Lcords orjwires are crossed as indicated by the diagonal dotted lines. It is also vapparent that by giving the arm 53 a rotative inotionaboiit its own axis the levers 49 and 50 will .act op ositely with respect to each other. and'willJ give the rudders an action contrary to that given by swinging-the arm. It is obvioiis that both the swinging and -ro' tative mot-ions can be given the arm 53 at the same time so as to give the rudders a' combination action. In this way either action of the rudders may bemoditied and .regulated to' a nicety by combining with it somewhat ofthe other action.

The vertical rudder 8 affords means for steering the vessel 1n lateral directions.

This rudder swings on the shaft 25 which ened speed is? then overcome by the air-im?,

inwind at an increased an le on thel lanes P s s.

Y or othersustaining. surfaces. This rudder may be operated in any'ordinary manner asby wires or cords attached to the ends of the T-'arni 2S onthe shaft 25, vno special mode 'of operating this rudder being included as a part of the present invention.

. fllhe advantages of an aerial vessel constructed in accordance with: the foregoing vdescription are readily apparent'. The danger of collapse attendant upon driving the known forms of buoyant vessels at high speed or against the wind is well known 'and' obvious.` In the vessel described the effect of wind resistance is largely overcome owing -to its peculiar kpropelling arrangement by which the air is removed from in front of the vessel and caused to pass out at the rear.' The structurels such, however, that unless the inelosing planes 3, et and 5 are vfully indated practically all of the forward air pressure is met by 4the rigid walls of the tubular propelling portion, which by their' peculiariform and construction are adapted to withstand it. `When the inclosing planes are fully inflated some of the forward air pressure will bear against their projecting .convex walls. Thisinay be prevented by ein,v

tending i the forward edges of the tubular portion to form wind shields beyond the line of attachment of the flexible wallsias shown at 2U in F ig. 5. vThese walls may yield, however, without danger to the structure as some of the buoyant element can freely pass out 'through the nozzlev casing 30. The loss of buoyancy thus produced is partly or wholly compensated by the upward veli'ect of the air pressure on the two lower planes 4 vand 5 which would receive a greater air.im

pact than the tonplane 3 owing tov the norf mal inclination of the vessel. When the airimpinging surfaces are made of suflicient size and high propelling power isused it is, in fact, not necessary to use the buoyant element while the vessel is under way, but this reserve buoyancy may be used for hovering or remaining neutral in the air, which is especially desirable for military purposes, or 1t may be used asv an aid in starting or rising or to eifect safe 'and gentle landings bydescending vertically or withvery, moderate horizontal speed.v

The'novel; method of inliatin'g anddeilat- `ing and of 'heating the buoyant element isy another feature of great advantage. The fatal defect of nearly all buoyant vessels is their inability to rise without discharge of ballast or to descend `without the escape of gas, neither of which lwhen once lost can be regained. By'the use of its inlating and de-v flating and heating apparatus the vessel described-becomes independentl ofl ballast and lhas a range of travel limited only by the',v

amount of fuel .and Gas-producing materials that it can carry. part from the purpose of propulsion the .gas generating mechanism' needbe of but comparatively Small capacity, itbeing the heat from the generator used to warm the buoyant air that is relied jupon rather than any buoyant properties of the gas itself.v A further economy resultssfrom .the fact that when partof the buoyant ele? ment `is passed off bydeflation it is only the colder and denser, atmosphere from the bottoni of-its iiiclosure that is. lost. i The :id-

vantages of the controlling deviceA `for the horizontal gliding vand balancing planes lor ruddersand of the rearwardly inclined axis of the vertical rudder have been set forth.

with sufficient particularity in connection with thedescription. of them.

Having fully described oneform ofappw ratus in whichthe principles ofthe present invention may be embodied, vexpressly reservingour right to the various modifications that can be made without departing from the spirit thereof, what we claim is:

' l. The combination with an aerial vessell of a plurality of flexible'pl'anes and a tubular propelling apparatus, theplanes being so disposed about the-propelling apparatus that they may be inflated ory deflated toa convex ,or concave form as desiredi 2. The combination with an aerial vessel of a tubular propelling apparatus having enlarged triangularends and a system of aero planes adapted `to form an inclosed space about the said propelling apparatus for-the purpose described y y 3. The combination' withan aerial vessel of a tubular propelling apparatus with en- -larged triangular ends andv three inclosing planes to form an inclosed space about the iio said propellingapparatus, one of the planes being secured in a normally horizontal position above the propelling apparatus.

4f. The combination with an aerial vessel of a tubular propelling apparatuswith enf' larged triangular ends yand three inclosing planes to` form an inclosed space about the said propelling apparatus, one of the lanes vbeingsecured in a 'normallyhoriz'onta position vabove the propelling apparatus, and

' other planes secured 'atthelateraledges of said horizontal plane above The propelling apparatus.

5. The combination with an aerial vessel enlarged triangular ends, three inclosiiig vplanes attached to the said triangular ends and inclosing the propelling apparatus, and

of a tubularpropelling appartus' having closing casing for a buoyant element, and I means for inf'lating the casino 'with a heated gas or other elastic fluid supplied under pressure and mingled witlia. relatively largequantity ot atmospheric air.

S. In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or 'air-.impinging surfacesof an in closing casing for a buoyant element, a generator for producing heated gas or other elastic fluid under pressure and means for conductinfY said heated gas or other elast-ic fluid -to tlie interior ,of the casing in such manner as to draw with it a relatively large quahtit of atmospheric air, said air being lheated y the said gas .dr elastic fluid.

-9. In an aerial vessel the combinationwith planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant'element, a centrally contracted conduit or passage leading to the interior of said casing, and a 'nozzle within the conduit. adapted to discharge a jet of heated elastic fluid into the casing so as to draw with it-a relatively large quantity of atmospheric air.

10. In an aerial vessel the combination withplanes or ai'rimpinging surfaces of aninclosing casing for a buoyant element, a

generator for producing heated gas or other i elastic- ,fluid, and vmeans for dischargingjal ]et of said heated gas outwardly through an.

aperture in said casing in such manner as to expel its contents therethrough.

11. In an aerial .vessel the combination with planes or aireimpinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a' buoyant element, a generator for producing heated Jgas or other elastic fluid, means for discharging a jet of saidheated gas outwardly through an aper- Vture in said casing in such manner as to exp'el its contents therethrough and means forl openingand closing the aperture in the casma A 12. In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces-of an inclosing casing forming an envelop for a buoyant element, and means for discharging a jet of heated' fluid upward through van Iop so contents of said envelop being displaced through said opening in its lowerpart.

'13. In an' aerialv vessel the `cox'nbination With planes or arfimpinging surfaces of an gas or other municuting with the interior o said casino', and a nozzle within said conduit adapted to discharge a heated gas or other elastic fluid outwardly through said conduit in such manner as to expel the contents of the casing therethrough.

14. In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a centrallycontracted conduit or passage communicating with the interior of said casing, a nozzle within said conduit adapted to discharge a heated gas or other elastic fluid outwardly through said conduit in such manner as to expel the contents of the casing therethrough, and means for opening and closing said conduit.

' 15. In an aerial vessel thecombination with plancs'oi air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing vcasing forming an envelop for a buoyant element and meansl lfor conducting a jet of elastic fluid in either direction through an aperture in said casing.

16; In'.l an aerial Vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing forming an envelop for a buoyant'element, means for conducting a jet of elastic fluid inceither direetonthrough an aperture in said casing and means Ifor opening and closingI .Jaid aperture.

17. In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a

centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto and means -for discharging a jet of gas or other elastic fluid in either direction through said conduit.

18.' In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a? centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto, means for discharging a jet of elastic fluid in either direction inclosing lcasing for a buoyant element, a centrally contracted conduit or Passage comf through the said conduit, and means for l opening and closing said conduit'or passage. 19. In an aerial vessel the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, and means forinflating and delating the casing, said means comprising a jet-nozzle casing forming an aperturedn the lower portion of the casing anda nozzle or nozzles within said jet-nozzle casing adapted to discharge a jet of elastic fluid in either direction therethrough.

20. In an aerial vessel 'the combination with planes or air-impinging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, means for inflating and deflating the casing, said means comprisinga jet-,nozzle casing' forming an aperture in the lower ortion of the casing and a nozzle or nozz es'within said jet-nozzle casing adapted to discharge a' jet of elastic fluid either dre'ctionitliere'L through, and means for opening and .closing said jet-nozzle casing. v

21. ln an *aerial --Vessel the combination with planes or.air-iinp'inging surfaces of'an inclosing casing for 'a'buoyant elementa centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto, a generator for producing' heated gas or' other elastic Huid under pressure, Ca pipe leading from the generator, la three-way cock connected to said pipe, a branch pipe from said cock-adapted to dis- 'charge a jet' of said gas or fluid intoy the cas? ing-through the said conduit in such manner as to draw :atmospheric air therethrough,

and another branch, pipe from said cockI adapted to discharge av jet of said gas or4 fluid inthe opposite direction through the .said conduit in such manner as to draw out the contents ofthe casing.

22. Inlan aerial -Vessel the combination 4with planes or air-imp inging surfaces of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, al

cent-rally contracted conduit or passage 1eading thereto, a generator for producing heated gas or othei' elastic fluid under pressure, a

pipe leading from the generator, a three-way cock'connected to said pipe, a branchpipe from said cock adapted to discharge a jet of said gas or'fluid into the casing'through the l said conduit in such manner as to draw atmospheric air therethrough, another branch pipe from saidcockv adapted'to discharge a jet of said gas or fluid in theopposite direction through the said conduit 1n such inaniier as to draw out thecontents' of thecasing and means f or' opening and closing saidelongated conduit or passage.

The combination with anfaerial vessel i of a tubularballoon having a centralpassage Aand means for discharging an elastic fluid therein, the 'Walls of said passagebeing formed of-rigid material to withstand wind or air pressure andv being extended forward of the balloon to form wind shields therefor.

24. The combination with an aerial Vessel of a tubular balloon having a central passage 'ofV triangular section and means for discharging an elastic 4fluid therein, the

walls of said passage being formed of rigid material towithstand Wind or-airpressure and being'extended forward of the balloon y to form wind shields therefo`r 25. In an inflatable and detlatable airship,me'ans for producing a heatedelastic iiuid under pressure, means for propelling the airship by the rearward discharge of said fluid, and means for the employment of a jet ofsaid fluid for the inflation thereof. 26. In an inflatable and detiatable airshi rmeans for producing a heatedelastic fluldunder pressure, means for propelling the airship by the rearward discharge of said F- fluid, and' means A for the 4veinploynrient o fa jet of said luidor the detlation'thereof.

27.' In an. inflatable and d'eflatahle airship,

,means for producing a heated elastic fluid- 'under pressure, means for propellintg the airship'by the rearward discharge o said flu id, and means for the employment of jets of said fluid for .the inflation and deflation thereof.

28. In an inflatable'and detlatable airship,

means for producingl aheated elastic fluid under pressure, means for propelling the? airship by the rearward discharge ofsaid fluid, and means for the `employi'nent vof a jet of said fluid for theinliation thereof,

said means 'comprising a'A device.l for. diS- charging a jet of said `fluid into an opening in the balloon casing in such manner as to drawl atmospheric air therethrough, the. air being heated by said Huid.

l29. In aniniiatable and deflatable airship,

lmeans forv producing a heated elastic ichiid under pressu re, means .for propellingv the 'airshipby tlierearWard discharge of' said fluid, and means for the employmentof a jetof said .fluid for the deflation thereof, said means comprising -a devlce for disvcharging a jet. of said fluid outwardly through an opening in the balloon casing .in such manner as to draw out the balloon contents therethrough.,

l 30. In an inflatable and deflatab'le airship, means for producing a heated elastic fluid under pressure1neans for propelling. the airshipv by thel rearward discharge of said Huid, andmeans for the employment of jets of said luid for the inflation and deflation thereof, said means comprising a device for W'allsof said passage being formed ofrigid material to withstand wind or air pressure.v

33. The combi-nation with an aerial vessel sage of triangular section and means for ldiscliarging an elastic fluid therein, the' of astubular balloon haring a central' pasv'sageof triangular section and means f or discharginganfelastic fluid therein to pro pel thevesseh v 34. The combination inan aerial Vessel of an inclo'singcasing for a. buoyantw elem-ent and means for-inflating'the casingwithaheated gas or. other elastictluid Supplied under pressure and mingled with a relatively large gluantity of atmospheric air.

35. hecoinbination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a generator for producing heated gas orf 'centrally contracted conduit or passage leadingto the interior of said casing and a nozjzle within the conduit adapted to discharge a `iet of heated elastic fluid into the casing so as to. draw with it a relatively large quantity of atmospheric air.

37. The combination 'in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing forming an envelo fory a buoyant element, and means for disc iarging a )etof heated fluid upwards through an opening 1n the lower part of said envelop so Aas toheat the contents thereof, the surplus contents of said envelop being displaced through said o lening lin its lower art.

38. Thecom ination in an aeiia Vessel of au inclosing casinar for a buoyant element, a generator for producing heated gas or other elastict fluid and means for discharging a jet lofsaid heated gas outwardly through an aperture in said casing insuch manner as to expel its contents therethrough.

39. The combination 1n an `aerial vessel of an vinclosing casin for a buoyant element, a

generator for .pro ucing heated gas or other elastic fluid, means for discharging a )et of said heated gas outwardly through an aperture in said casing in suchmanner as to expel its contents therethrough and means for opening and closing the aperture in the casing.

40. The combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a central-ly contracted conduit or assage communicating with the interior o said casing land a nozze Within said conduit adapted to discharge a heated gas or other elast-1c fluid outwardly through said conduit in such manner as to expel the contents of the casing therethrough. Y

41. The combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a' 'centrally contracted conduit or assage communicating with the interior o said casing, a nozzle within said conduit ada ted to discharge a heated gas or other `e astic Huid voutwardly through said 'conduit in such manner as to vexpel the contents of the casing therethrough and means for opening an closing said conduit.

42. The combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing forming an envelop for another branch pipe a buoyant element and means for conducting a )et of elastic fluid in either direction through an aperture in said casing.

L13. The combination in an aerial vessel of' an inclosing casing forming an envelop for a buoyant element. means for conducting a jet of elastic fluid in either direction through au aperture in said casing and means for opening andclosing said aperture.

All. The combination in an aerial vessel of' an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto and means for discharging a jet of' gas or'other elastic fluid in either direction through said conduit.

4.5. The combination in an aerial vessel of an ir'iclosing ca sing for a buoyant element, a centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto, means lf'or discharging a jet ot' gas or`other elastic fluid in either direction throu h said conduit and means for opening and c osing said conduit or passage.

4G. The combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casino for a buoyant element and. means for in ating and deflatino; the

casing, said means comprising a jet-nozzle easing forming an aperture in the lower portion f the casing and a nozzle or nozzles within said jet-nozzle casino' adapted to discharge a jet of elastic flui in either direction therethrough.

47. VThe combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, means for inflat-ing and deflating the casing, said means comprising a jet-nozzle casing forming an aperture in the lower portion of' the casing and a nozzle or nozzles within said jet-nozzle casing adapted to discharge a j'et of elastic fluid in either direction therethrough, and means for opening and closing said jet-nozzle casing.

48. rIhe combination in an aerial vessel of' an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a centrally-contracted conduit or 'assage leading theretoa generator for pro ucing heated gas or other elastic fluid under pressure, a pipe leading from the generator, a three- Way cock `connected to said pipe, a branch ipe from said cock adapted to discharge a )et 'of said gas or fluid into the casing through the said conduit in such manner as to draw atmospheric air therethrough and from said cock adapted to discharge a jet of said gas oi' fluid in the opposite directionI through the said conduit in such manner as to draw out the contents of the casing. p 4

. 49. The combination in an aerial vessel of an inclosing casing for a buoyant element, a. centrally contracted conduit or passage leading thereto, a generator for producing heated gas or other elastic fluid under pressure, a pipe leading from the generator, a three- Way cock connected to said pipe, a branch pipe yfrom sad cock adapted fo. 'discharge a of th vcusing and mznnsv forlopenig and jet of said gals or Huid into the casing closing smd'conduit or passage. Y

'through the said conduit n vsuch manne as' CHRISTOPHER JOHN LAKE,V

- draw .atmospheric air therethrough', an- I i other branch pipe from said cock adapted tof; 'jdischarge'a jet of said gas or fluid in the fit-messes:

(FORMERLYJOHN CHRISTOPHER LAKE).-

SPENCER 'HEATH. l

opposite "direction through she-saidconduit CQ E. ADAMS, izo such marmol' as to Vdraw out the contents 1 N. P. MCKNEW. 

